Recliner

ABSTRACT

A recliner is disclosed here. The recliner is used as an office chair. The recliner includes a seat, a backrest pivotally attached to the seat, a stool pivotally attached to the seat, a linkage connected between the backrest and the stool and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the seat and the backrest.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a recliner.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,518 discloses a conventional recliner. This conventional recliner is however very complicated in structure. This complicated structure includes many parts and eventually entails a very high cost. Moreover, this complicated structure is bulky and heavy. The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a recliner with a backrest that can be moved to any desired position within a range.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a recliner with a stool that can be moved to any desired position within a range.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a recliner that is simple in structure.

According to the present invention, a recliner is disclosed here. The recliner is used as an office chair. The recliner includes a seat, a backrest pivotally attached to the seat, a stool pivotally attached to the seat, a linkage connected between the backrest and the stool and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the seat and the backrest.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recliner according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the recliner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the recliner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows a hydraulic cylinder of the recliner in a different position.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the recliner in another position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a recliner 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Not like conventional recliners that are often used as sofas, the recliner 10 is used as an office chair. The recliner 10 includes a base 22, a post 24 installed on the base 22, a seat 20 installed on the post 24 and two armrests 21 installed on the seat 20. The base 22 includes at least three legs 26 and at least three casters 28 each attached to corresponding one of the legs 26. The post 24 is preferably a hydraulic cylinder so as to allow the position of the seat 20 to be adjusted.

A backrest 30 is arranged between and pivotally connected with the armrests 21. The backrest 30 includes an upper portion 31 for supporting a user's back and a lower portion 32 to be described.

A stool 40 includes two linkages 41 attached to the seat 20 and a stool plate 42 attached to the linkages 41. Referring to FIG. 2, each linkages 41 includes a first link 43 pivotally connected with the seat 20, a second link 44 pivotally connected with the seat 20, a third link 45 pivotally connected with the first link 43 and the second link 44, a fourth link 46 pivotally connected with the third link 45, a fifth link 47 pivotally connected with the fourth link 46 and a sixth link 48 pivotally connected with the third link 45 and the fifth link 47. The stool plate 42 is attached to the sixth links 48 of the linkages 41.

A linkage 50 is used to connect the lower portion 32 of the backrest 30 with the linkages 41. Referring to FIG. 3, the linkage 50 includes a first link 51 and a second link 52. The first link 51 includes an end pivotally connected with the lower portion 32 of the backrest 30 and an opposite end connected with a center of the second link 52. The second link 52 of the linkage 50 includes two ends each connected with the second link 44 of corresponding one of the linkages 41.

A hydraulic cylinder 60 includes an end attached to the seat 20 and an opposite end attached to the lower section 32 of the backrest 30. The hydraulic cylinder 60 includes a lever 61 for the control thereof. The lever 61 is normally in a first position shown in FIG. 3. In the first position of the lever 61, the hydraulic cylinder 60 cannot be extended and shrunk. The lever 61 can be pivoted to a second position shown in FIG. 4. In the second position of the lever 61, the hydraulic cylinder 60 can be extended and shrunk.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hydraulic cylinder 60 is extended. The lower portion 32 of the backrest 30 is in a rear position so that the backrest 30 is in a high position. The second links 44 of the linkages 41 are in a rear position so that the stool 40 is in a withdrawn position.

The lever 61 can be pivoted from the first position shown in FIG. 3 to the second position shown in FIG. 4. The hydraulic cylinder 60 can be shrunk so as to allow the movement of the backrest 30 and the stool 40 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to a position shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, the hydraulic cylinder 60 is shrunk. Because of the hydraulic cylinder 60, the lower portion 32 of the backrest 30 is in a front position so that the backrest 30 is in a lower position. Because of the linkage 50, the second links 44 of the linkages 41 are moved to a front position so that the stool 40 is in an extended position.

The backrest 30 and the stool 40 can be moved to any desired position between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 due to the use of the hydraulic cylinder 60.

The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A recliner comprising a seat, a backrest pivotally attached to the seat, a stool pivotally attached to the seat, a linkage connected between the backrest and the stool and a hydraulic cylinder connected between the seat and the backrest.
 2. The recliner according to claim 1 wherein the hydraulic cylinder includes a lever movable from a first position where the hydraulic cylinder cannot be extended and shrunk to a second position where the hydraulic cylinder can be extended and shrunk.
 3. The recliner according to claim 1 wherein the stool includes two linkages pivotally connected with the seat and a stool plate pivotally connected with the linkages thereof.
 4. The recliner according to claim 3 wherein the each of the linkages includes a first link pivotally connected with the seat, a second link pivotally connected with the seat, a third link pivotally connected with the first link and the second link, a fourth link pivotally connected with the third link, a fifth link pivotally connected with the fourth link and a sixth link pivotally connected with the third link and the fifth link, and the stool plate is attached to the sixth links of the linkages.
 5. The recliner according to claim 1 wherein the linkage includes a first link and a second link, and the first link includes an end pivotally connected with the backrest and an opposite end connected with a center of the second link, and the second link of the linkage includes two ends each connected with one of the first and second links of corresponding one of the linkages.
 6. The recliner according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the second link of the linkage are connected with the second links of the linkages of the stool.
 7. The recliner according to claim 1 including two armrests connected between the seat and the backrest.
 8. The recliner according to claim 7 wherein the hydraulic cylinder includes a lever movable from a first position where the hydraulic cylinder cannot be extended and shrunk to a second position where the hydraulic cylinder can be extended and shrunk.
 9. The recliner according to claim 7 wherein the stool includes two linkages pivotally connected with the seat and a stool plate pivotally connected with the linkages thereof.
 10. The recliner according to claim 9 wherein the each of the linkages includes a first link pivotally connected with the seat, a second link pivotally connected with the seat, a third link pivotally connected with the first link and the second link, a fourth link pivotally connected with the third link, a fifth link pivotally connected with the fourth link and a sixth link pivotally connected with the third link and the fifth link, and the stool plate is attached to the sixth links of the linkages.
 11. The recliner according to claim 7 wherein the linkage includes a first link and a second link, and the first link includes an end pivotally connected with the backrest and an opposite end connected with a center of the second link, and the second link of the linkage includes two ends each connected with one of the first and second links of corresponding one of the linkages.
 12. The recliner according to claim 7 wherein the ends of the second link of the linkage are connected with the second links of the linkages of the stool.
 13. The recliner according to claim 7 wherein the backrest is arranged between the armrests. 